Kyiv has accused Vladimir Putin of “trying to create a refugee crisis for the West” by deliberately blowing up grain stores in Odesa which is a key port for exporting grain out of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Agriculture minister Mykola Solsky said that Russian missiles had destroyed 60,000 tons of grain after a “massive attack.”
On Monday Putin refused to extend the UN brokered deal to allow grain to be shipped out of the Black Sea after an attack on the Kerch Bridge in Crimea.
The head of President Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak said after the “missile attack” that this shows Russia is trying to “politically intervene in the internal affairs of these countries by all means.
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“The Russian Federation’s terror in Odesa proves the hunger and problems in the countries of the Global South is the single thing they need.”
Communities and Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, tweeted that attacking grain stores put Russia “at war not only with Ukraine, but also with the people of Africa and Asia, for whom this grain is a matter of survival.”
Brave rescuers eliminate the consequences of Russian terror. Civilian objects were again hit by the occupiers. 5 people were injured.
From SESU about 140 rescuers and 36 machines were involved. Thank you!#RussiaisATerroistState pic.twitter.com/pP9Vx5MpPp
— Сергій Крук (@Serhiy_Kruk) July 19, 2023
Ukrainian officials have described the attack on Odesa as a “deliberate act of terrorism” by Russia and “the biggest missile and drone attack from the start of [the] full-scale invasion.”
Russia “intentionally” launched the attack on Odesa which was hit by “very powerful” strikes for the second night in a row.
Mykahailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky has called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting after a “deliberate act of terrorism.”
Podolyak said, the missile strike on Odesa, “clearly reflected Russia‘s attitude towards ‘food security’, African countries, the UN, and the prospects of global hunger.”
“The main objective is to destroy the possibility of shipping Ukrainian grain,” he added.
Ukrainian MP Oleskiy Goncharenko says it was “the biggest missile and drone attack from the start of [the] full-scale invasion” which started in February 2022.
He added, “Putin tries to cause as much chaos in the world as possible by stopping Ukrainian agriculture exports, stopping Odesa’s ports, and causing starvation for millions of people around the world.”
He warned that Odesa is now one of the biggest targets for the Kremlin, which “maybe now the biggest” as the port is strategic for the Black Sea.
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